Pop Annual 1955-2016

The brand new edition of the Pop Annual 1955-2016 is now up for pre-order (will be released in late September).

Order before July 31 and save $15 off the regular price!

https://www.recordresearch.com/pop/pop_annual_1955-2016.php

Edited by Paul Haney

Paul, when was the last year that a Pop Annual came out?

Paul Haney wrote: The brand new edition of the Pop Annual 1955-2016 is now up for pre-order (will be released in late September). Order before July 31 and save $15 off the regular price! https://www.recordresearch.com/pop/pop_annual_1955-2016.php

I've been "programmed" to buy updated books as soon as they are available, so my order is already in. You update Pop Singles, R&B Singles, C&W, release new chart books and I buy 'em! Kind of hard to break a 45 year old habit as I bought my first Pop Singles book in 1972 and have bought every new edition since. Still waiting for an update to the Rock tracks and Album charts but it's been since 2008 and 2009 respectively.

Has Joel ever considered having a forum for us chart geeks? Think about the possible topics.

CHART ODDITIES
In the 1/22/44 issue the Best Sellers and Harlem Hit Parade were incorrect. In the 1/29/44 issue Billboard stated the previous weeks charts were incorrect due to a "clerical" error and actually publish the correct chart information. So now "G.I. Jive" by Johnny Mercer only peaked at #4 on the R&B chart and "My Ideal" by Billy Butterfield peaked at #10 on the national Best Sellers list instead of just being a regional hit.
The Rock Tracks chart on 3/24/84 was literally a reprint of the 3/17/84 chart - another "clerical" error. If you take last weeks position from the 3/31/84 chart you can derive 53 out of 60 positions for the prepared but unpublished 3/24/84 chart.
The Bubbling Under chart for 1/12/85 only listed 105-110 out of order but according to your old Bubbling Under book you have positions for 101-104.

MISSING SONGS
"Jingle Bell Imitations" by Chubby Checker & Bobby Rydell is on the 12/25/61 bubbling chart but not in your Pop Singles book.
"A House Is Not A Home" by Dionne Warwick was listed as the top version in the Cashbox R&B charts you used in your R&B book but you credit the Brook Benton version with all of its charted weeks.
"Don't Say Goodbye" by The Diamonds was listed as a b-side on the Disc Jockey charts for one week but not in your books.
Or how about "Too Fat Polka" by Arthur Godfrey was a co-number one on the 1/10/48 Most Played by Jockeys chart but you only give it credit for peaking at #2.

BOOK SUGGESTIONS
Forum members can suggest future books, i.e. a R&B book based on the Music Vendor/Record World charts to complete the "trilogy" of Pop, C&W, and R&B. You could also get feedback from future book buyers about books you are thinking about publishing. I'm sure you published a book that had underwhelming demand.
And maybe offering on-line PDFs of correction/updates for books that you no longer update, i.e. "Pop Hits Singles & Albums 1940-1954".

Think of the possibilities! Anyhow just my long winded two cents worth.

Edited by Chartman

I think plenty of chart geeks are already here or are
aware of Pat's forum.

;)

Paul, in a recent Billboard podcast, Joel hinted that he was considering some
major changes to the Country Songs books moving forward.

Because all the flagship genre charts are moving so slowly these days (An
example being that Sam Hunt's song is currently #1 for the 32nd week), Joel was
pondering incorporating airplay chart positions as well.

Wondering if you guys have reached a decision on this, as so many key charts are
affected by the slow turnover (now that they are essentially genre—specific
distillations of the Hot 100).

I for one would be against it, but sadly, I am not a Record Research employee!!